MegaBus... Or Mega Diaster?

Once upon a time, last October,  I was invited by one of my closest friends to visit her in Nashville, TN. Three of our other close friends were going to make the trek out as well so I was excited to see everyone! We were ready to explore Nashville and I couldn't wait to figure out my travel arrangements. Well I searched online for airplane tickets and tried to map out the drive from Indiana to Nashville but I decided that trying a new means of transportation would be an incredible journey! ... boy was I wrong.

It all started one day at work when I was trying to book travel information for my sales guy to go up to Chicago for the weekend. He said "Oh just reserve the MegaBus" and I was all "Whaddaheck is the MegasBus?" To which he explained this fancy, double decker, luxury, bus that has stations all over the USA including from Indianapolis to Chicago, Cincinnati and a few other spots. He promised that he had never had a bad experience and since he didn't have to worry about travel inconveniences while he rode, he could plug his laptop into the bus outlet, sign onto the free Wi-Fi and be in Chicago before he knew it.

I was intrigued.

So while I was trying to figure out the most cost effective way to get 7 hours southeast, I looked at their website. They had a line from Indy to Nashville! And only $28 each way! Booked!

I was very excited and had been reassured multiple times that everything would work out great. So I packed my suitcase and brought my laptop to watch a few movies and I figured I would be all set...

Well, come Friday, Blake thankfully offered to wait with me at the 'bus stop' (really just a random MegasBus sign in the middle of the street) so I wouldn't have to leave my car downtown while I was away. The bus was supposed to come at 5:30ish. But there was no sign of anything for close to 3 hours. 3. Blake had to go to the meter at least five times to put more change in, best Fiance ever. I made this while we waited:

It's a nature documentary. I borrowed my cameraman's coat.

Anyway so the luxurious bus rolls up close to 9pm and by this time I have already made friends with a woman who was waiting. She has a boyfriend in Nashville and takes the bus at least twice a month. She swore she only had one other bad experience. Unbeknownst to her, this adventure would top it.

This bus rolls up. Not even a double decker. Top of line bus system you say? More like busted up Greyhound. This bus was like if the worst of the Greyhound fleet mated with the metro that Jerry Seinfeld took to Coney Island in that one episode... completely wretched.

At this point I am already thinking I should turn back. Don't get on the bus, my conscious says, you'll be murdered at the gas station in Louisville. But I want to see my friends so bad that I walk past the obvious drug deal near the luggage rack and stagger all the way to the back of the bus. But unless I want to sit next to the 300lb cousin of the main character from Slumdog Millionaire who is humming some incomprehensible tune, I turn around and head back up to the front begging my new friend to let me scrunch in next to her. Before the bus even makes it to the highway I am choking back tears, praying that I will have the courage to ask the bus driver to drop me off at the closest gas station so Blake can pick me up.


Here are some of the luxuries I was accommodated with on this bus trip:

1. No working electrical outlets
2. Broken Wi-Fi
3. Heat stuck on 90 degrees
4. 3 week old baby in the front seat
5. Mother breast feeding her baby in the front seat (no problem with that) but Orangutan nipple makes an appearance
6.  This picture in the pitch dark, radiating off of this person's computer
7. Stopping at THEE sketchiest gas station for a half hour pit stop
8. No music because my phone was almost dead and no way to charge it
9. And the constant worry of where the heck this Hell Bus was going to drop my pitiful butt off in downtown Nashville. 

Basically any girl's worst nightmare.

So I have an awesome time in Nashville, trip of a lifetime with my best friends but I am absolutely dreading my return home. I almost consider just buying a plane ticket in order to avoid the inevitable. But I suck it up and get to the random bus stop and guess what is waiting there already? The conveniently advertised double decker luxury bus. It was like the bus right out of heaven's gate. I couldn't believe my eyes. And it was a Monday so it wasn't very full. I went up to the top deck and had a whole row to myself. I could look out the plexi-glass roof and plug my computer in. It was a miracle. 

So I enjoyed the ride to the pitstop with playlist making and then I was able to rent a redbox at the McDonald's to watch the entire length of the trip home. Oh, it was Katy Perry the movie Part of Me, 5 stars and no sarcasm. I loved it.

So I don't know what advice to give on this bipolar mode of transportation but be prepared for Jekyll or Hyde because, like I experienced, ya never know whatcha gonna get.





Boom. Still alive.... Posted.

Pumping It Up.

You guys want to know the secret to keeping your New Year's Resolution? Don't even make one! Just get your butt to the gym... or maybe the alternative...

Picture this: sweat is dripping from the ceiling, the music is blaring, bass pounding, arms flailing, legs jiggling , hair whipping back and forth... you think you are at a club? Nope. Zumba.

I never thought I would succumb to the intensity of a Zumba class. If any thing I thought it would be a pathetic attempt to learn who to 'dance' and I already learned that from the Kinect so.... But here I am, in 2013, and it's my second week! The first week... miserable. I was all over the place, always doing the wrong right leg when I should have been on the left. But sometimes I would find the groove and really feel like I was getting down and dirty.... but I know I just looked like this...

That's the trouble with these classes, especially when there are not any mirrors. Everyone thinks they look like J. Lo shaking their buns and gyrating their hips when really... they look like Molly Shannon in Superstar. (Look it up)

Tonight there was a smaller woman in front of me that was just laying it all out on the table. I mean she was really into it, similar to these twins dancing to the Wii (The right one especially):

I mean high kicking, power punching, and just flinging sweat to the wayside. She was a ZumbaPro. 

Let me tell you what it takes to be a ZumbaPro. All you need is to disregard any insecurities and take up full confidence that you are a Latin Loving Queen. Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night, forget the worries on your mind.... Okay seriously. I really don't like Zumba that much, but it's good for me and the people watching is just priceless. Like I said, unimaginable confidence and complete disregard to actual choreography skill. 

My favorite of the fitness classes is Turbo Strength. It gets my blood pumping and I am in the zone! I pretend like I'm punching the rude people I may have talked to on the phone that day at work or I envision myself in one of those 80's work out videos. Either way its a great stress release. 

Then I have been going to yoga on Thursday and needless to say... it was just like when I talked about yoga before in The Trumpet Section of Life, people fartin' up a storm and all. Oh well what are you gonna do... gotta find release somewhere (waaa waaaaa). 

Boom. Posted. 

Oh how the years go by.

I'M BACK SUCKAS!

That's right, I've dusted of the ole blog and this baby is back in business. A new year, a new challenge, and a new blog post every Wednesday? Can life get any better? I suggest that it cannot! (A little Brian Regan to bring in the new tone for ya.) Speaking of Brian Regan.... he was just in town this fall and my *ahem* fiance (yes, I'm engaged!) surprised me with tickets to my favorite comedian and the night was non-stop laughter. Some other 2012 highlights include:

January: New Year's in Scottsdale with friends (oh the drive home)

February: Superbowl visit to Indianapolis (watched it from our super cool living room fort!)

March: Won the crap out of retiree bingo at the old neighborhood (Literally made more money playing than working at that golf course...)

April: Return to Indianapolis for job interviews (End up having to go to another one after celebratory happy hour... needless to say it's not my current job. Also, Skyzone!)

May: New job offer and finally pack up for Indy (... and my new car Stella becomes a part of the familia!)

June: Recover from the Indy500 (yes it took a whole month to recover from the redneckery)

July: Birthday in Vegas! (and I walked/ran/mostly walked my first 5K, the Color Run!)

August: Back to Vegas for Summer Splash (why yes.... you can have too much Vegas)

September: Aurora & Sterling are born (Blake and my alternate personalities who are hipsters)

October: Built up o much excitement to hand out candy to trick or treaters... didn't even have one show up... (at least my Barbie zombie outfit was not entirely wasted... it lasted through a bottle of Riesling). Blake and I become obsessed with puppies we can't have or afford (and I'm allergic). Also, I went on the great adventure of the MegaBus all the way to Nashville (that's another post in itself...)

November: I said YES! (Blake proposed after 8 years of friendship, 1.5 years long distance, 6 months regular dating, some mistakes and forgiveness, and now we are getting married!) 

December: Moving Apartments, Mom & the Old Roommate came to visit, Picking out wedding date!!! Christmas Tea in D.C., Christmas vacation in Texas, and New Year's snow in Indy (I think I've had enough traveling for one year!)

  

OKAY, That was my 2012!! On to the next year with even more incredible memories!